Apple tree named ‘CP 101’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinctive variety of  Malus domestica  apple tree, named ‘CP 101’ that is distinguished by its attractive fruit color and flavor, early harvest season that is different than its seed parent, and its moderate scion dwarfing.

Latin name: Malus domestica Borkh.

Varietal denomination: ‘CP 101’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of apple tree ‘CP 101’ was created in the course of aplanned breeding program carried out at in Keedysville, Md. ‘CP 101’originated as an open-pollinated seed of ‘Cripps Pink’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 7,880, seed parent) and an unknown ‘CGM’ seedling (not patented,pollen parent). ‘CGM’ seedlings were the result of an open-pollinatedcross between seedlings of ‘McIntosh Wijcik’ (not patented, seed parent)and ‘Gala’ (not patented, pollen parent) generated by the inventors inKeedysville, Md. The plantings were isolated from other plantings, sowhile they were the result of open-pollination, the authors are fairlycertain of the pollen parentage. ‘Cripps Pink’, ‘CGM’, ‘McIntosh Wijcik’and ‘Gala’ were all cultivated between the years 1991 and 1999. CGMseedlings were on their own roots, while the varieties ‘Cripps Pink’,‘McIntosh Wijcik’ and ‘Gala’ were grafted on M.7. ‘CP 101’ was selectedas a single plant from among a population of seedlings derived fromthese parents for its precocity, productivity, tree architecture,attractive fruit color and flavor, and adaptation to the hot, wet summergrowing conditions present in the Mid-Atlantic region of the UnitedStates. It is distinguished from its seed parent by its early harvestseason which in Keedysville, Md. is the first week of October. ‘CrippsPink’ is harvested at that same location three to four weeks later. Inthe tenth leaf, the height and spread of the original self-rooted ‘CP101’ seedling was 3.02 m and 3.27 m, respectively. Wild-type ‘CrippsPink’ seedlings at the same age measured 4.14 m and 4.57 m,respectively. From this we estimate a minimum of 30% scion dwarfing. ‘CP101’ is a departure from other dwarfing, tree architecture releases inthat it is neither a single-leader, columnar type (ie. ‘Maypole’,‘Tuscan’, ‘Hercules’, ‘Moonlight’, ‘Trajan’, or ‘Telamon’, to name afew) nor is it a spur type tree characterized by the very shortinternode length (ie. ‘Spur-type Red Delicious’, ‘Early Spur Rome’,‘Cumberland Spur’, ‘Oregon Spur’, etc). ‘CP 101’ retains an attractive“Christmas tree” shape, while being 30% smaller than wild-typecounterparts. Internodes are somewhat reduced, but not generallycomparable to traditional spur types.

Table 1 represents fruit quality indices of ‘CP 101’, ‘Granny Smtih’,and ‘Pink Lady’ varieties. In Table 1, pressure is a measure of fruitfirmness, SSC is a measure of soluble solid content of fruit in units °Brix, and SPI is a measure of the starch pattern index on the Cornell8-point starch chart. The varieties were sampled on Nov. 5, 2014 anddata is presented as an average of twenty fruit.

TABLE 1 Firmness Fruit (kilo) SSC Starch Weigh (g) ‘CP 101 7.86 16.2 7153.4 ‘Granny Smith’ 7.03 12.05 6.5 178.25 ‘Pink Lady’ 8.6 16.7 5 158.8

Important features of ‘CP 101’ with respect to prior art cultivarsinclude low-pruning tree architecture, precocity and high producticitywith low biennial bearing, and improved fruit quality and pleasingaesthetic appearance. ‘CP 101’ is adapted to Mid-Atlantic, U.S.A.growing conditions.

Asexual propagation by budding was first carried out in Cecilton, Md.The variety is compatible with ‘Budagovski 9’ and ‘Merton-Malling 111’rootstocks, which is currently the industry standard. Successfulgrafting of budwood onto Merton-Malling 111 rootstocks was accomplished.This is the first in a series of second-generation trees we havedeveloped with size control and tree-architecture benefits conferred bythe scion. These make it applicable to intensive apple managementsystems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 shows a blossom of ‘CP 101’

FIG. 2 shows the fruit of ‘CP 101’

FIG. 3 shows the tree architecture of ‘CP 101’

FIG. 4 shows the leaves and immature fruit of ‘CP 101’;

FIG. 5 shows the floral buds of ‘CP 101’;

FIG. 6 shows the scaffold branch of ‘CP 101’;

FIG. 7 shows the trunk of ‘CP 101’ at waist height; and

FIG. 8 shows budwood stick of ‘CP 101’.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed botanical description is based on observations ofthe ten year old ‘CP 101’ apple tree grown at Keedysville, Md. Colordescriptions refer to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,published in 2001. It should be understood that the characteristicsdescribed will vary somewhat depending upon cultural practices andclimatic conditions, and can vary with location and season. Quantifiedmeasurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken from anumber of individual fruits of the new variety. The measurements of anyindividual plant, or any group of plants, of the new variety may varyfrom the stated average. When multiple colors were observed, the primarycolor is listed first and the secondary color is listed second.

-   Tree:    -   -   Vigor.—Low to Medium vigor.        -   Habit.—Spreading.        -   Bearing.—Spurs and laterals on last year's wood.        -   Size.—Height: 3.02 m; spread: 3.27 m.        -   Trunk.—Diameter 8.7 cm at 30 cm above soil line; bark            texture smooth; color grey-brown 199C.        -   Trunk lenticels.—Density 8 per square inch; length 0.1 to            0.2 cm; color grey-brown 199B.        -   Branches (scaffold limbs located about 1 m above            ground).—Length 152 cm; diameter 2.2 cm (near trunk, past            collar); crotch angle 90 degree; color greyed-green 197B.        -   Branch lenticels.—Density 6 per square inch; length 0.1 cm;            color greyed-green 197D.        -   Winter hardiness.—Hardy in Keedysville, Md., USDA Hardiness            Zone 6b (−5° F. to 0° F.).        -   Dormant one year old shoot.—Size. — Diameter 0.25 cm; length            28 cm.        -   Color.—Grey-brown N199C. Internode length. — 3.7 cm.        -   Lenticels.—Density 88 per square inch; length 0.1 cm; color            grey-brown N199D.-   Flowers:    -   -   Bud.—Quantity per spur 5 to 6; length 1.3 cm; diameter 0.7            cm; color red-purple 64C with white N155C.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower 5; cupped upwards, free, not            touching; width 0.9 cm; length 1.6 cm; both the upper            (adaxial) surface and lower (abaxial) surface of the petals            are the same color, namely, white NN155B and red-purple 63C            when fully open. The petals are obtuse, with an entire            margin with some undulation. The petal terminates into a 2            mm long, 0.9 mm wide base, which is a petiole-like structure            that attaches to the floral tube.        -   Flower.—The blossom (or flower cluster) consists of five,            sometimes six, individual flowers. The diameter of the            blossom is typically 7.6 cm with a height of 4.5 cm measured            from the uppermost bud scale scar. Individual flowers in the            flower cluster measure 4.1 cm in height and between 3.9            cm-4.4 cm in diameter.        -   Pistil.—Individual flowers have a single fused pistil which            divides into five distinct styles. The pistil length is            7.9 mm. The pistil separates into five individual styles at            3.8 mm above the point of attachment of the pistil to the            hypanthium. Pistil diameter at the base is 1.1 mm and the            pistil color is 144D as measured using The Royal            Horticultural Colour Chart. The five individual lobes of the            pistil are each about 4.1 mm in length, with each of the            lobes terminating in a stigmatic surface of 1 mm diameter.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower 5; color yellow-green 142B.            Sepals are hirstute and lanceolate with a sharp apex. Sepal            length is 8 to 9 mm with width ranges from 3 to 4.4 mm at            their point of attachment to the hypanthicum.        -   Pedicel.—Length 2.0 cm; diameter 0.1 cm; color yellow-green            144B.        -   Anthers.—Quantity per flower 17; length 1.0 cm; stamen color            orange-white 159A; pollen color yellow 4D.        -   Stigma.—Color yellow-green 144D. Style. — Length 0.9; color            yellow-green 144C.        -   Ovary.—Length 0.5 cm; width 0.3 cm; color green 143A.        -   Time of flowering.—Early to mid-April in Keedysville, Md.,            similar to Gala/Cripps Pink.        -   Pollination requirement.—No special pollination requirements            known.-   Leaf (first fully expanded):    -   -   Size.—Length 7.6 cm; width 4.6 cm.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Surface texture.—Upper surface medium glossy; Lower surface            weak pubescent. Color. — Upper surface green 143A; lower            surface yellow-green 144B.        -   Shape.—Ovate; apex acuminate; base equilateral.        -   Petiole.—Length 3.2 cm; width 0.2 cm; color yellow-green            144B.-   Fruit:    -   -   Quantity.—Typically, one fruit is borne per cluster,            although this can range to as many as three fruit when there            is a heavy crop and no thinning treatments are applied.        -   Size.—Diameter 7.0 cm; height 5.7 cm.        -   Fruit shape.—Oblate to Conic. Position of maximum diameter.            — Equator.        -   Ribbing.—Absent.        -   Crowning at calyx end.—Absent.        -   Aperture of eye.—Open.        -   Depth of eye basin.—Medium, 1 cm.        -   Width of eye basin.—Medium, 2.0 cm.        -   Lenticels.—Medium, diameter 0.7 mm; Density 6 per cm.        -   Locule.—Aperture of locule in transverse section is closed;            Average size of locule is 7.2 mm by 4.3 mm. There are five            locules per fruit.        -   Stalk.—Diameter 0.5 cm; length 1.5 cm; color greyed-orange            167C.        -   Depth of stalk cavity.—Medium, 1.5 cm.        -   Width of stalk cavity.—Medium, 2.0 cm.        -   Size of lenticels.—Small, 1 mm.        -   Bloom of skin.—Absent.        -   Greasiness of skin.—Absent.        -   Ground color of skin.—Green-Yellow 1C.        -   Over color of skin.—Red 53B stripe with red 47C blush over            approximately 90% of surface.        -   Flesh.—Texture crisp; medium juiciness; color yellow-white            158C.        -   Seeds.—Quantity per fruit 5; teardrop shape; length 0.7 cm,            width 0.5 cm; color brown 200D.        -   Aroma.—Weak.        -   Harvest date.—October 15, 3 to 4 weeks before ‘Cripps Pink’            (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,880).        -   Storage.—Fruit remains in good condition after 70 days in            storage at 4±0.5° C.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—fruit showed better than average            tolerance to Brown Marmorated Stink Bug; fruit were            susceptible to bitter rot (Glomerella cingulata) in years            conducive to the disease; tree showed some field tolerance            to fire blight (Erwinia amylovora (Burrill 1882) Winslow et            al. 1920) following bloom infection and hail storms.        -   Market use.—Dessert. ‘CP 101’ apples are firm and flavorful.            Taste tests have shown them to have the balance of sweetness            and acidity favored by fresh-market apple consumers.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Apple tree known as ‘CP 101’as described and illustrated herein.